One treatment for those exposed to high, but not lethal, doses of radiation is antibiotics. What are doctors attempting to counteract?

When individuals are exposed to high doses of radiation, one of the significant consequences is the suppression of bone marrow function, which leads to a decreased production of blood cells, particularly white blood cells. White blood cells are crucial for the immune system as they help fight infections. After radiation exposure, the body's ability to produce these cells can be compromised, leading to an increased risk of infections.

Doctors may use antibiotics in this scenario to prevent or treat infections that arise due to the lowered white blood cell count. This is important because a weakened immune system cannot effectively combat pathogens, which can lead to serious health complications.

The other aspects of hematopoiesis, such as red blood cells and platelets, although affected by radiation, are not the primary focus of antibiotic treatment. The key issue after radiation exposure is the risk of infection owing to the compromised white blood cell count, making the option related to lowered white blood cell count the most relevant in this context.